Cooling apparatus for converter

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for cooling the upper part of a converter comprises a lip ring assembly and conduit means to transmit a coolant to the lip ring assembly from a coolant supply source. The lip ring assembly is made up of a plurality of hollow arcuate segments releasably attached to the outer shell of the converter which rests on the upper end face of the refractory lining in a circular arrangement about the mouth of the converter. The upper wall of each arcuate segment extends radially inwardly so that the entire lip ring assembly has a frustoconical shape. Each segment has inlet and outlet conduits connected to one of two annular pipes surrounding the outer shell and forming a part of the fluid conducting system for supplying a coolant to the segments.

United States Patent [451 Aug. 29, 1972 Wortman [54] COOLING APPARATUS FOR CONVERTER [72] Inventor: Stephen Wortman, Chicago, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Kaiser Industries Corporation,

Oakland, Calif.

[22] Filed: July 28, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 58,810

[52] US. Cl ..266/35, 263/44 [51] Int. Cl ..C2lc 5/42 [58] Field of Search ..263/44; 266/32, 35, 36 P [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,358,983 12/1967 Wegscheider et a1. ..266/35 1,703,517 2/ 1929 Dovel ..266/32 3,304,075 2/1967 Puxkandl ..266/36 P 2,805,851 9/1957 Becker et a1 ..266/32 1,027,738 5/1912 Ladd et a1 ..266/32 2,671,658 3/1954 Moore ..266/32 3,345,058 10/ 1967 Pere ..266/ 36 P 3,588,072 6/ 1971 Matsumoto ..266/36 P IIIIII Primary ExaminerGerald A. Dost Att0mey-James E. Toomey, Paul E. Calrow and Harold L. Jenkins ABSTRACT Apparatus for cooling the upper part of a converter comprises a lip ring assembly and conduit means to transmit a coolant to the lip ring assembly from a coolant supply source. The lip ring assembly is made up of a plurality of hollow arcuate segments releasably attached to the outer shell of the converter which rests on the upper end face of the refractory lining in a circular arrangement about the mouth of the converter. The upper wall of each arcuate segment extends radially inwardly so that the entire lip ring assembly has a frustoconical shape. Each segment has inlet and outlet conduits connected to one of two annular pipes surrounding the outer shell and forming a part of the fluid conducting system for supplying a coolant to the segments.

13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures Patnted Aug. 29, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 STEPHEN M/OETMAN INVENTOR.

ATTOEA/Ey Patented Aug. 29, 1972 5 Sheets-Sheet STEPHEN M ORTMAN INVENTOR.

w g/i i 4 v COOLING APPARATUS FOR- CONVERTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a crucible or converter for carrying out top-blowing process, and more particularly relates to a water-cooled apparatus to cool the upper portion of a crucible.

In the course of development of the top-blowing process there has been an increasing trend towards larger crucible sizes. As the mouth increases in size, the thermal stresses increase to such a degree that the upper parts of the converter are subjected to considerable deformations and damages. One prior art technique of preventing these thermal stresses is to use a hollow ring-shaped element supplied with a coolant and surrounding the mouth of the converter. While this arrangement has been found to be satisfactory, the ring element gets damaged quite frequently requiring the need to replace it, which replacement operation is both cumbersome and expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is an improvement over previous cooling arrangements by providing a lip ring assembly formed from a plurality of arcuate hollow rings which are individually releasably attached to the outer shell and disposed about the mouth of the converter, permitting the replacement of individual damaged segments rather than the entire ring element.

In the interior of each segment there are a plurality of radial baffles defining a tortuous conducting path with the result that the cooling capacity of the lip ring of this invention is much greater than prior designs. Each segment has inlet and outlet conduits connected to annular inlet and outlet pipes surrounding the mouth of the crucible and forming a part of the fluid conducting system for supplying a coolant to the segments.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS For a better understanding of this invention reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a converter equipped with lip ring assembly embodying the principle of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1; and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a crucible or converter which is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and comprises a crucible shell 12 and a refractory lining 14. The upper end face 16 of the lining bricks 14 extend radially inwardly to define the crucible mouth 18. The converter 10 is pivotally mounted by means of trunnions 20 supported by a pair of pedestals 22 in the conventional manner, as illustrated in FIG. 1 where the converter is depicted in the upright or blowing position.

In accordance with the principlesof this invention,

the upper portion of the crucible '10 is cooled by transr'nitting a coolant through a plurality of arcuate segments 26 which are supported in a continuous circular arrangement about'the mouth 18 of crucible 10. The

arcuate segments 26 are identical in construction and are releasably attached to the crucible 10.

Each of the arcuate segments 26 has a hollow housing 28 (FIG. 3), with upper and lower arcuate shaped walls 30 and 32 extending radially and interconnected at their inner and outer ends by curved inner and outer end walls 34 and 36. The ends of the housing 28 are covered by side walls 38 and 40 (FIG. 2).

The lower wall 32 is in thermal contact with the upper end face 16 of lining l4, and has an outer extension portion 42 projecting radially beyond the outer shell 12. A mounting flange 44 extends downwardly from extension portion 42 for the purpose of releasably attaching the arcuate segment 26 by means of bolts 46 to one of the plurality of mounting brackets 48, which are permanently mounted, as by welding, to the shell 12 adjacent its upper end.

The housing 28 for each segment 26 is provided with' a dividing wall 50 to separate it into two equal chambers 52 and 54. Chambers 52 and 54 have, respectively, inlet connectors 56, 58 and outlet connectors 60, 62 secured to openings formed in the outer extension portion 42 of lower wall 32. The chambers 52, 54 have a series of interleaved radially extending baffles 64 to define a tortuous conducting path for the coolant flowing therethrough. The coolant is supplied to and discharged from the chambers 52 and 54 by means of two annular pipes 66 and 68, respectively, which encircle the crucible 10 below the mounting brackets 48. Supply conduit means 70 interconnect inlet connectors 56 and 58 to annular pipe 66. Similarly, discharge conduit means 72 interconnect outlet connectors 60, 62 to annular pipe 68. For ease in replacing individual segments 26, supply and discharge conduit means 70 and 72 include, respectively, flexible hoses 74 and 76 and shut-off valves 78 and 80.

The annular pipes 66 and 68 are connected to a coolant supply system which also cools the trunnions 20 in a known manner. Supply conduit 82 extends downwardly from annular pipe 66 along the outer surface of crucible shell 12, bends through a 90 angle to pass through one of the trunnions 20, and by means of a swivel joint connector 84 is coupled to a stationary conduit 86 coming from a coolant supply source (not shown). In a like manner, discharge conduit 88 extends downwardly from annular pipe 68 along the outer shell of crucible shell 12, bends through a 90 angle to pass through the other trunnion 20, and is coupled to return conduit 92 by swivel joint connector 90.

The arcuate segments 26 collectively define a frustoconical surface which provides several advantages and savings. The upper wall 30 of housing 28 is shaped at a sharp enough angle to direct the solid particles back into the furnace. The upper wall 30 may also provide a seat for the skirt 94 (partially shown by dotted lines in FIG. 3) if a closed hood is used.

By having the arcuate segments 26 individually fastened to crucible 10, it is possible to replace one should it become damaged or develop a leak rather than the necessity or replacing the entire lip ring assembly. Such a replacement may be accomplished in a rapid and easy manner. The shut-off valves 78 and are closed and the four flexible hoses 74, 76 are uncou-' pled from inlet and outlet connectors 56, 58, 60 and 62. Next the bolts 46 are unscrewed and the housing 28 is removed and replaced. The installation process for the new housing is the reverse of the procedure just described. It will be appreciated that this replacement operation is far simpler than to replace the entire lip ring assembly and is far cheaper since only one segment is replaced.

I claim:

1. In a converter assembly for carrying out top blowing processes having a converter with a circular upper end face surrounding the mouth portion thereof, an apparatus for cooling the upper part of said converter comprising a plurality of hollow arcuate segments disposed in a continuous circular arrangement adjacent the said mouth portion and having a bottom wall in direct contact with said upper end face, means for releasably attaching each of said segments individually to said converter, wall means subdividing the interior of 'each of said segments into a plurality of intercommunicating coolant chambers that are in constant open communication with inlet and outlet conduit means, said inlet conduit means being connected to a supply conduit means for sending a coolant through said segments and said outlet means being connected to a discharge conduit means for exiting the coolant.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein said subdividing wall means include a series of interleaved radially extending baffles that define a tortuous path for said coolant and a reinforcing and converter mounting flange.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the top wall of said arcuate segments converges towards said bottom wall in a radially inward direction to provide a sliding surface directed downwardly into the center of said converter.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said bottom wall of each of said segments extends outwardly of said converter and wherein said means for releasably attaching each of said segments includes a mounting flange extending downwardly from said outward extension of said bottom wall, a plurality of mounting brackets extending outwardly from the outer shell of said converter about and adjacent to its upper end and fastening means for releasably securing said mounting flanges of said segments to said mounting brackets.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said inlet and outlet conduit means extend through said outer extension portion of said bottom wall and are spaced from each other in a circumferential direction at opposite ends thereof.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein said supply conduit means includes a first annular shaped pipe surrounding said converter below said outward extension of said bottom wall and interconnected to said inlet conduit means for each of said arcuate segments and wherein said discharge conduit means includes a second annular shaped pipe surrounding said converter below said outward extension and interconnected to said outlet conduit means for each of said arcuate segments.

7. In a converter assembly for carrying out top blowing processes having a converter with a circular upper end face surrounding the mouth portion, an apparatus for cooling the upper part of said converter comprising a plurality of hollow arcuate segments in a continuous circular arrangement havigg a bottom wall in dirgft contact with said upper en ace, means for releasa y attaching each of said segments individually to said converter, a radially extending wall dividing the hollow interior of each of said segments into two chambers, inlet conduit means for each of said chambers, and outlet conduit means for each of said chambers, where said inlet conduit means is connected to supply conduit means for sending a coolant through each of said chambers and said outer conduit means is connected to a discharge conduit means for exiting the coolant.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein each of said arcuate segments includes a series of interleaved radially extending baffles mounted in each of said chambers to define a tortuous path for said coolant flowing therethrough.

9. The combination of claim 7, wherein the top wall of said arcuate segments converges towards said bottom wall in a radially inward direction to provide a sliding surface directed downwardly into the center of said converter.

10. The combination of claim 7, wherein said bottom wall of each of said segments extends outwardly of said converter and wherein said means for releasably attaching each of said segments includes a mounting flange extending downwardly from said bottom wall, a plurality of mounting brackets extending outwardly from the outer shell of said converter about and adjacent to its upper end and fastening means for releasably securing said mounting flanges of said segments to said mounting brackets.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said bottom wall has an outer extension and said inlet and outlet conduit means for said chambers extend through said outer extension of said bottom wall and are spaced from each other in a circumferential direction at opposite ends thereof.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said two chambers in each of said hollow arcuate segments include a series of interleaved radially extending baffles to define a tortuous path for said coolant flowing therethrough.

13. The combination of claim 11, wherein said supplyconduit means includes a first annular shaped pipe surrounding said converter below said outer extension of said bottom wall and interconnected to said inlet conduit means for said two chambers in each of said arcuate segments and wherein said discharge conduit means includes a second annular shaped pipe surrounding said converter below said outer extension and interconnected to said outlet conduit means for said two chambers in each of said arcuate segments. 

1. In a converter assembly for carrying out top blowing processes having a converter with a circular upper end face surrounding the mouth portion thereof, an apparatus for cooling the upper part of said converter comprising a plurality of hollow arcuate segments disposed in a continuous circular arrangement adjacent the said mouth portion and having a bottom wall in direct contact with said upper end face, means for releasably attaching each of said segments individually to said converter, wall means subdividing the interior of each of said segments into a plurality of intercommunicating coolant chambers that are in constant open communication with inlet and outlet conduit means, said inlet conduit means being connected to a supply conduit means for sending a coolant through said segments and said outlet means being connected to a discharge conduit means for exiting the coolant.
 2. A combination of claim 1, wherein said subdividing wall means includes a series of interleaved radially extending baffles that define a tortuous path for said coolant and a reinforcing and converter mounting flange.
 3. The combination of claim 1, wherein the top wall of said arcuate segments converges towards said bottom wall in a radially inward direction to provide a sliding surface directed downwardly into the center of said converter.
 4. The combination of claim 1, wherein said bottom wall of each of said segments extends outwardly of said converter and wherein said means for releasably attaching each of said segments includes a mounting flange extending downwardly from said outward extension of said bottom wall, a plurality of mounting brackets extending outwardly from the outer shell of said converter about and adjacent to its upper end and fastening means for releasably securing said mounting flanges of said segments to said mounting brackets.
 5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said inlet and outlet conduit means extend through said outer extension portion of said bottom wall and are spaced from each other in a circumferential direction at opposite ends thereof.
 6. The combination of claim 4, wherein said supply conduit means includes a first annular shaped pipe surrounding said converter below said outward extension of said bottom wall and interconnected to said inlet conduit means for each of said arcuate segments and wherein said discharge conduit means includes a second annular shaped pipe surrounding said converter below said outward extension and interconnected to said outlet conduit means for each of said arcuate segments.
 7. In a converter assembly for carrying out top blowing processes having a converter with a circular upper end face surrounding the mouth portion, an apparatus for cooling the upper part of said converter comprising a plurality of hollow arcuate segments in a continuous circular arrangement having a bottom wall in direct contact with said upper end face, means for releasably attaching each of said segments individually to said converter, a radially extending wall dividing the hollow interior of each of said segments into two chambers, inlet conduit means for each of said chambers, and outlet conduit means for each of said chambers, where said inlet conduit means is connected to supply conduit means for sending a coolant through each of said chambers and said outer conduit means is connected to a discharge conduit means for exiting the coolant.
 8. The combination of claim 7, wherein each of said arcuate segments includes a series of interleaved radially extending baffles mounted in each of said chambers to define a tortuous path for said coolant flowing therethrough.
 9. The combination of claim 7, wherein the top wall of said arcuate segments converges towards said bottom wall in a radially inward direction to provide a sliding surface directed downwardly into the center of said converter.
 10. The cOmbination of claim 7, wherein said bottom wall of each of said segments extends outwardly of said converter and wherein said means for releasably attaching each of said segments includes a mounting flange extending downwardly from said bottom wall, a plurality of mounting brackets extending outwardly from the outer shell of said converter about and adjacent to its upper end and fastening means for releasably securing said mounting flanges of said segments to said mounting brackets.
 11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said bottom wall has an outer extension and said inlet and outlet conduit means for said chambers extend through said outer extension of said bottom wall and are spaced from each other in a circumferential direction at opposite ends thereof.
 12. The combination of claim 11, wherein said two chambers in each of said hollow arcuate segments include a series of interleaved radially extending baffles to define a tortuous path for said coolant flowing therethrough.
 13. The combination of claim 11, wherein said supply conduit means includes a first annular shaped pipe surrounding said converter below said outer extension of said bottom wall and interconnected to said inlet conduit means for said two chambers in each of said arcuate segments and wherein said discharge conduit means includes a second annular shaped pipe surrounding said converter below said outer extension and interconnected to said outlet conduit means for said two chambers in each of said arcuate segments. 